Ophthalmoscopes

ABSTRACT

An instrument for selectively performing direct and photographic ophthalmoscopy including a variable focus image-forming objective at one end of an elongated flexible illuminating and imagetransporting bundle of optical fibers having an image-viewing eyepiece and associated ophthalmoscopic optics adjacent its opposite end for diagnostically viewing images transported by the optical fiber bundle and a camera associated with said eyepiece for selectively photographically recording images transported by said flexible bundle of optical fibers.

United State:

Kuwahara et al. ..351/7 X Matsura [4 1 Oct. 17, 1972 [54]QPHTHALMOSCOPES 3,010,357 11/1961 Hirschowitz ..350/96 B 72 Inventor:Thomas T. Matsura, Tokyo Japan 3,016,000 1/1962 NOYOl'l .1351/7 X [73]Assignee: American Optical Corporation, primary Examiner ])avidschonberg southbl'ldge M Assistant Examiner-Paul A. Sacher [22] p Jam29, 1971 Attorney-William C. Nealon, Noble S. Williams and Robert .1.Bird [21] App1.No.: 110,858

[57] ABSTRACT I [52] U.S.C|. ..35l/6, 350/96 B,3355l1//l 72, Aninstrument for Selectively performing direct and photographicophthalmoscopy including a variable 2; :5; 3/12 3/l4 G02b 9 focusimage-forming objective at one end of an elon- 1 d 0 Search 350/96 gatedflexible illuminating and image-transporting EM bundle of optical fibershaving an image-viewing eyepiece and associated ophthalmoscopic opticsad- [561 References cued jacent its opposite end for diagnosticallyviewing UNITED STATES PATENTS images transported by the optical fiberbundle and a camera associated with said eyepiece for selectively3,089,398 5/1963 films ..351/7 X photographicauy recording imagestransported b id 3,091,235 5/1963 Richards, ..350/96 B flexible bundleof optical fib 3,019,699 2/1962 Schenk ..35l/12 6 Claims, 1 DrawingFigure is... i

INVENTOR. THOMAS T. MATSUURA PKTENTEMBT 17 I972 ATTORNEY OPHTHALMOSCOPESBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1 Field of the Invention Ophthalmicinstruments with particular reference to improvements in anophthalmoscope for direct and photographic ophthalmoscopy.

2. Description of the Prior Art Direct ophthalmoscopy has, heretofore,required an uncomfortably close proximity of the eye of the practitionerto that of the patient with awkward head movements of one or both beingrequired for viewing different parts of the eye fundus and its othercomponents. Still further complicating the ophthalmic examination is theneed for manipulation of focusing lenses during or upon assuming thevarious viewing positions, all of which renders this type of ophthalmicexamination difficult, tedious to perform and especially problematic indealing with patients having to maintain positions other than upright,i.e. lying on their side, back or prone.

A principal objective of the present invention is to overcome theaforementioned and related drawbacks of conventional direct andphotographic ophthalmoscopy wherewith ophthalmic examinations can beperformed with exceptional ease and comfort to both the patient andpractitioner and with greater facility for discovery and diagnosis ofophthalmic abnormalities.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The foregoing objective and others which maybecome apparent hereinafter are accomplished according to the presentinvention with ophthalmoscopic instrumentation including an elongated,flexible illuminating and image transporting bundle of optical fibershaving a variable focus image-forming objective at one end and animage-viewing eyepiece adjacent its opposite end for diagnosticallyviewing images received and transported by the optical fiber bundle. Theimage forming objective end of the optical fiber bundle, being freelymaneuverable independently of and at a substantial distance from theophthalmoscopic eyepiece, permits variable angular viewing of an eyeunder examination for maximum coverage of various'parts of its fundusand/or external components from a fixed practitioners viewing position.

The invention will be more fully understood by reference to thefollowing detailed description when taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawing.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The FIGURE is an illustration, incross-section, of a preferred embodiment of the invention depicting itsuse in ophthalmoscopy.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring more particularly tothe drawing, it can be seen that ophthalmoscope comprises a main bodyportion 12 having a housing 14 within which are supported the usualophthalmoscopic multiple element rotary discs 16 and 18 carrying lensesand light filters, a light source 20 and condensing lens system 22 inchannel 23.

that it is desired to be hand-held during use. In the. present case,however, housing 14 is preferably attached to an instrument stand (notshown) as a stationary unit therewith which may be rendered movable,e.g., with casters. Alternatively, it may have its own pedestal. In anycase, housing 14 is provided with a practitioners viewing aperturehaving eyepiece 24 placed forwardly of rotary discs 16. Eyepiece 24includes fitting 28 into which one end of an elongated flexible bundle30 of optical light-conducting fibers 32 is proximally fixedly secured.Adjacent to housing l4 peripheral fibers 32a of bundle 30 are separatedfrom the more central fibers 32b of the bundle and directed into channel23 of housing 14. Fibers 32a receive light from source 20 and conductsame to the distal end 34 of bundle 30 where it is emitted from fibers32 through objective lens 36 for illumination of an eye 38 of a patientto be examined ophthalmoscopically.

With this light directed through objective lens 36 into eye 38 and atleast partially reflected from illuminated portions of the fundus, theseportions of the fundus are imaged by objective lens 36 (along with thelens 38a of eye 38) upon end face 40 of bundle 30. The image is thentransported by the well known principles of total internal reflectionthrough fibers 32b to emitting face 42 of the fiber bundle. In order toassure a focused condition of images of different parts of the eye 38upon face 40 of bundle 30, objective lens 36, in tubular sleeve 44, isselectively adjustable toward and away from face 40 by manipulation ofthe upper rotatable section 46a of handle 46. Pin 48 fixedly secured insleeve 44 extends through slot 50 in collar 52 to which handle 46 isattached by rod 54. The lower section 46b of handle 46 is splined orotherwise fixedly secured to rod 54. Plate 56 fixed to section 46a ofhandle 46 and having cam slot 58 into which pin 48 extends, controls theextent of movement of objective lens 36 toward and away from face 40according to the direction and extent of rotation of section 46a. Thus,with handle 46, the distal end 34 of bundle 30 may be directed with onehand placed upon section 4611 toward any particular inside or externalportion of eye 38 desired to be examined and the practitioner may, withthe thumb or a finger of the same hand used to rotate section 46a,simultaneously bring images of these portions of eye 38 into focus uponface 40 for viewing at face 42 of fiber bundle 30.

Headrest 60, fixed to collar 52, may be fulcrumed against a patientsbrow (as illustrated) for steadying the image-receiving objective end ofbundle 30 during ophthalmoscopy.

As mentioned hereinabove, images formed upon face 40 of bundle 30 areconducted by fibers 32b to face 42 for viewing through eyepiece 24 bythe practitioners eye 26. Additionally, through'adjustment of discs 16,various combinations of filters and/or magnifying lenses may be includedin the eyepiece system of ophthalmoscope 10 for special viewing effects.At the same time, variously selected light filters 62 in discs 18 use ofthe various lenses and/or light-filtering elements in discs 16 and 18 aswell as other procedures practiced in the performance of ophthalmoscopymay be had by referring to US. Pat. No. 3,019,699. Also, thoseinterested in details of the construction, function, and generalprinciples of operation of optical light conducting fibers and fiberoptical image-transporting bundles may refer to US. Pat. Nos. 3,033,731and 3,091,235.

Photographic recording of images received at face 42 of fiber bundle 30may be accomplished by lowering mirror 64 to the position shown withdotted outline 64a whereby, through camera lens system 66 and camera 68(both illustrated diagrammatically) face 42 is imaged upon film 70.Mirror 64 may be partially transmissive to light whereby viewing of face42 with eye 26 and simultaneous photographing thereof may beaccomplished. lntensified illumination of an eye 38 under examinationmay be accomplished by substituting a photographic flash lamp for lightsource 20 and/or supplementing the light emitted from source 20 withintense stroboscopic light or the like.

Bundle 30 of optical fibers 32 may be sheathed with a flexibleconventional fabric or tallic protective covering 72. The bundle may beas desired convenient length, up to several feet, but preferably notmore than an arms length since its distal end is intended to be operatedby one hand of a practitioner viewing its proximal end.

Reference made hereinabove to objective lens 36, condenser lens system22, eyepiece 24 and camera lens system 66 is intended to include eitherone or a plurality of lenses in each case selected with ordinary skillin the art to fulfill their aforementioned requirements.

I claim:

1. in an ophthalmoscopic instrument having a main body portion whichhouses a viewing aperture, a light channel with a source of lighttherein and auxiliary lens and light filtering means selectivelypositionable in line with said viewing aperture and light channel, theimprovement comprising:

an elongated flexible light-conducting fiber bundle having a firstportion of its fibers proximally secured to said housing in tightlygrouped together axially aligned relationship with said viewingaperture, the remaining fibers being proximally tightly grouped togetherand secured to said housing in aligned relationship with said lightchannel;

said fibers of said bundle all being distally tightly grouped togetheradjacent their termini as a combined light-emitting and image-receivingface of said fiber bundle with said grouped opposite ends of said firstportion of fibers comprising an imageemitting face of the bundle;

objective lens means adjacent said termini of said fibers for producingimages of objects under observation by said ophthalmic instrument uponsaid image-receiving face of said bundle for transference to saidimage-emitting face and viewing thereof through said viewing aperture;and

protruding handle means also adjacent said fiber termini for manuallymanipulating said bundle and for moving said objective lens relative tosaid objects under observation for selectively imaging portions of saidobjects through said objective lens means upon said image-receiving faceof said bundle. 2. The improvement in an ophthalmoscopic instrumentaccording to claim 1 wherein said first portion of said fibers of saidbundle comprises centrally disposed fibers thereof and said remainingfibers are peripherally disposed fibers of said bundle.

3. The improvement in an ophthalmoscopic instrument according to claim 1further including an eyepiece disposed in said viewing aperture of saidinstrument for facilitating said viewing of said imageemitting face ofsaid fiber bundle.

4. The improvement in an ophthalmoscopic instrument according to claim 1further including a mirror selectively positionable in said viewingaperture for receiving image-forming light from said image-emitting faceof said bundle and redirecting such light laterally away from saidviewing aperture, and a camera arranged to receive and photographicallyrecord said laterally directed image-forming light.

5. The improvement in an ophthalmoscopic instrument according to claim 1wherein said handle means includes a cam and cam-follower mechanismoperatively linking said objective lens means and handle for moving saidobjective lens means toward and away from said image-receiving face ofsaid bundle by rotation of said bundle.

6. The improvement in an ophthalmoscopic instrument according to claim 1further including a brow rest attached to said'fiber bundle adjacentsaid imagereceiving face thereof for facilitating said manualmanipulation of said bundle.

1. In an ophthalmoscopic instrument having a main body portion whichhouses a viewing aperture, a light channel with a source of lighttherein and auxiliary lens and light filtering means selectivelypositionable in line with said viewing aperture and light channel, theimprovement comprising: an elongated flexible light-conducting fiberbundle having a first portion of its fibers proximally secured to saidhousing in tightly grouped together axially aligned relationship withsaid viewing aperture, the remaining fibers being proximally tightlygrouped together and secured to said housing in aligned relationshipwith said light channel; said fibers of said bundle all being distallytightly grouped together adjacent their termini as a combinedlight-emitting and image-receiving face of said fiber bundle with saidgrouped opposite ends of said first portion of fibers comprising animage-emitting face of the bundle; objective lens means adjacent saidtermini of said fibers for producing images of objects under observationby said ophthalmic instrument upon said image-receiving face of saidbundle for transference to said image-emitting face and viewing thereofthrough said viewing aperture; and protruding handle means also adjacentsaid fiber termini for manually manipulating said bundle and for movingsaid objective lens relative to said objects under observation forselectively imaging portions of said objects through said objective lensmeans upon said image-receiving face of said bundle.
 2. The improvementin an ophthalmoscopic instrument according to claim 1 wherein said firstportion of said fibers of said bundle comprises centrally disposedfibers thereof and said remaining fibers are peripherally disposedfibers of said bundle.
 3. The improvement in an ophthalmoscopicinstrument according to claim 1 further including an eyepiece disposedin said viewing aperture of said instrument for facilitating saidviewing of said image-emitting face of said fiber bundle.
 4. Theimprovement in an ophthalmoscopic instrument according to claim 1further including a mirror selectively positionable in said viewingaperture for receiving image-forming light from said image-emitting faceof said bundle and redirecting such light laterally away from saidviewing aperture, and a camera arranged to receive and photographicallyrecord said laterally directed image-forming light.
 5. The improvementin an ophthalmoscopic instrument according to claim 1 wherein saidhandle means includes a cam and cam-follower mechanism operativelylinking said objective lens means and handle for moving said objectivelens means toward and away from said image-receiving face of said bundleby rotation oF said bundle.
 6. The improvement in an ophthalmoscopicinstrument according to claim 1 further including a brow rest attachedto said fiber bundle adjacent said image-receiving face thereof forfacilitating said manual manipulation of said bundle.